Thursday Nights in the Garden: Growing Food, Families, and Friendships
Sun, Green, Heat, Weeds, Watering Cans, Laughter, Sweat, Radishes, Conversations, little kids, parents, Seeds, Peppers, Mint, teens, Spanish and English words all swirling together over fifteen garden beds for twenty, thirty, even forty minutes. It all then unwinds in departing footsteps, two by two, and slamming car doors as the sun slants lower and longer, […]
Planting Possibilities: New Accessible Garden Beds for All Students
When Aimee Sterk, Program Director at the Michigan Assistive Technology Program-Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, reached out asking if we had a need for handicapped-accessible raised beds, we eagerly accepted. In July, two raised beds were delivered to two of our Wyoming Public School gardens, Gladiola Elementary and West Elementary. Our students in wheelchairs will help […]
Reflecting on 2024 and Growing Together in 2025
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re proud to reflect on a year filled with growth, education, and community impact. This year, HOPE Gardens reached 2,641 students in garden and nutrition classes that inspired young minds and fostered a love for healthy living. From engaging students to hosting workshops and our successful heirloom plant sale, […]
New Fences and Expansions at Four School Gardens
Big things are happening in our school gardens! This fall, four Wyoming school gardens received brand-new fences: Godfrey Early Childhood Center, Godfrey Elementary, Gladiola Elementary, and West Elementary. These additions bring both beauty and functionality to each space, making the gardens even more welcoming and efficient. At Gladiola Elementary and West Elementary, the upgrades didn’t […]
H.O.P.E. Gardens Featured in School News Network: Cultivating Community and Learning
This year, H.O.P.E. Gardens was honored to be one of only four organizations in Michigan awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program. School News Network visited our schools to learn more about what this grant means for us. Check out their article here.
An Evening of Appreciation: Celebrating Community Under Autumn Skies
Our appreciation party for the families of our staff, board members, and volunteers unfolded on a perfect fall evening under the gazebo on the picturesque Troost family property. We kicked things off with a hearty meal of sloppy joes, cheesy potatoes, and a variety of sides. After dinner, everyone got creative, decorating and naming their […]
Growing Dreams: A New Community Garden for Families & Neighbors
Last week several dreams were fulfilled as a new community no-till nature-based garden was installed. The dream of a dear friend of many, Theresa Drost, was realized as children joyfully prepared the land to begin a new garden where families will come together to grow food and community. The dream of Family Network who envisions […]
From Bloom to Seed: Harvesting Sunflowers for Next Season’s Growth
Harvesting Sunflowers!
Sip & Savor: An Heirloom Tomato and Mocktail Experience
We had an unforgettable evening in the garden, celebrating the beauty and flavors of heirloom tomatoes and refreshing mocktails (non-alcoholic) crafted by mixologist Michael Bryan, featuring fresh herbs from the gardens. Guests delighted in an Heirloom Tomato Tasting, savoring and comparing a variety of flavorful heirloom tomatoes grown at H.O.P.E Gardens. They also enjoyed fresh […]
A Beautiful Harvest: FitKids360 Summer Celebration
This summer, we had the most beautiful time harvesting, preparing, and sharing a meal with the families we’ve been gardening with as part of our collaboration with FitKids360! It was a celebration of the hard work, care, and dedication these families put into growing their gardens, and the results were nothing short of amazing. As […]